Betsy Barber nee Smith's Obituary
In Loving Memory of Betsy Smith Barber
August 22, 1935 - September 20, 2023
Fayetteville, Tennessee native, Betsy Smith Barber, passed away peacefully on September 20, 2023, at the age of 88 at her home in Braddock Heights , MD. She was born to the late William Felix Smith Sr. and Marie (Rosie) Dyer Smith on August 22, 1935 in a hollow near Kelso, TN. Betsy was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, who left an indelible mark on the hearts of her family and friends.
Betsy's journey in life was deeply intertwined with that of her loving husband, Robert Washburn Barber. Their enduring love story began on March 24, 1961, when they exchanged vows, and for 62 years, their bond grew stronger with each passing day. Their romance started at work at the US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) in Germantown, MD.
Betsy's education started in Fayetteville, TN and continued in the Manhattan Project city of Oak Ridge, TN. With a high school education, Betsy worked in an Oak Ridge nuclear weapons plant and the local AEC radioisotopes licensing office. This started her lifetime interest in nuclear technology. She moved to Washington, DC in 1958 to continue with the AEC. Later in life she worked for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in the Office of Investigations.
Betsy was a dedicated scholar and earned her Associates Degree at Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland. Then she pursued her passion for mathematics at the University of Maryland showcasing her commitment to lifelong learning and personal growth. Her dedication to education was mirrored in her later professional life as she served as a Reports Analyst for NRC, where she worked diligently until her well-deserved retirement in 2007.
Moreover, Betsy's true legacy was her incredible thoughtfulness, open heart, and boundless willingness to help others. Her altruistic spirit touched the lives of everyone she met, and her family was the centerpiece of her world. Her unwavering support, love, and care for her family knew no bounds.
Early in life, Betsy took a strong interest in health and nutrition and served as the senior supporting member of the Washington, DC Hypoglycemia Association and the Hope of the World organization. As she went through life she demonstrated support for and a willingness to help others especially those that had suffered from discrimination.
Betsy is survived by her loving husband, Robert Washburn Barber, their enduring love story spanning six decades. She is also survived by her devoted daughters, Jennifer McKenzie of Oak Ridge, TN and Charlotte Letourneau and her husband William Meadors of Braddock Heights, MD. Betsy's memory will be cherished by her grandchildren, Stephanie Letourneau, Ethan Letourneau, Robert (Joey) Wheeler, Michael (Jamie) Wheeler, and Victoria Morris. She will also be remembered by her step-grandchildren Bradley Meadors, Cynthia Meadors, and Adam Meadors. Her great-grandchildren, Tiffanie Wheeler, Piper Wheeler, Alyssa Wheeler, Lincoln Wheeler, Brilee Morris, Mason Quilliams, and Nolan Quilliams will forever carry her legacy forward. Additionally, her great-great-grandchildren, Ryker Armes, La'Mayah Brown, Zoey Wheeler, Jayden Wheeler, and Zyaire Rose, will grow up hearing stories of their remarkable great-great-grandmother.
In addition to her parents, Betsy was predeceased by sisters Billie Marie Rather, Sally Ann Stockstill, and Nola Faye Smith, and brother William Felix Smith Jr. Betsy is survived by brothers Robert Randall Smith, Michael Jay Smith, and Steven Ray Smith.
Betsy was in the care of Frederick Health Hospice for 9 months at home. The family is grateful for the compassionate care she received on a weekly basis from her nurse Tina, nurse’s aide Melissa, social worker Vicki, volunteer companion Darian, and Chaplain Wes.
The family would like to thank Betsy's amazing primary caregiver, Adelaide Adusei and her team including Joana, Mary, Veronica, and Akosua, and the wonderful staff from Right at Home including Evelyn, Patricia, Kaitlyn, Lawmi, Angie, Shereka, Linda, and A'aliyah. They ensured that Betsy's last months were comfortable for her.
A visitation to celebrate Betsy's life will take place on October 19, 2023, from 5pm to 7pm at Resthaven Funeral Home & Crematory Inc, located at 9501 B Catoctin Mtn Hwy, Frederick, MD 21701, with services to follow at 7pm. On Friday, October 20, 2023, at 1pm, interment will be held at Resthaven Memorial Gardens, 9501 Catoctin Mtn Hwy, Frederick, MD 21701.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to your charity of choice.
In her passing, Betsy Smith Barber leaves behind a legacy of love, compassion, and devotion that will continue to inspire and comfort her family and friends. She will be dearly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her, and her memory will live on in the hearts of those whose lives she touched.
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